Delray Beach City Commissioner Mack Bernard announced today he’s running for the state House District 84 seat of Rep. Priscilla Taylor, D-West Palm Beach, now that Taylor has announced she’s running for Palm Beach County commission in 2010.

Former state Rep. James Henry “Hank” Harper Jr. and Riviera Beach Councilman Cedrick Thomas say they’re also interested in Taylor’s seat. Riviera Beach Councilman Shelby Lowe says a state House run is a possibility for him.

Don’t be surprised if more names emerge.

Bernard and all the potential candidates are Democrats. Dems hold roughly a 4-to-1 registration edge in Taylor’s district.

Democratic state Rep. Priscilla Taylor, one of four finalists for the gubernatorial appointment to fill a Palm Beach County commission vacancy, will make “a significant announcement regarding her political plans for 2010″ at a news conference Thursday at the county governmental center, according to an e-mail from her political consultant.

Gov. Charlie Crist does not expect to announce an appointment this week, said Eric Eikenberg, the governor’s chief of staff. Crist has interviewed Taylor, businessman Randy Johnson, Riviera Beach Councilwoman Billie Brooks and retired educator Vincent Goodman for the seat.

Regardless of whom Crist appoints, the commission seat will be on the ballot next year, so it’s possible Taylor will announce the opening a 2010 campaign.

Taylor wasn’t immediately reachable this afternoon.

Stay tuned.

Rep. Mary Brandenburg, pictured far left, is planning a campaign for Palm Beach County Commission in 2010. Her fellow West Palm Beach Democrat, Priscilla Taylor, is hoping Gov. Charlie Crist appoints her to the panel next month. Those ambitions make their votes this morning to freeze impact fees for the next few years mildly interesting.

The women joined all the House Republicans and about half of the Democratic caucus in a 92-26 vote to freeze impact fees through 2011. The measure was cast as an economic development measure by sponsor, Rep. Gary Aubuchon, R-Cape Coral.

A similar measure is moving through the Senate.

Gov. Charlie Crist will interview four finalists next week to replace Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie Greene, who’s stepping down April 30 for health reasons.

Click here to find out who’s in the running.

State Rep. Priscilla Taylor, D-West Palm Beach, is willing to give up her state House seat to represent Palm Beach County commission District 7 when Addie Greene steps down April 30.

Taylor is one of at least 11 applicants who have filled out paperwork with Gov. Charlie Crist’s appointments office. Former Boynton Beach Vice Mayor Henderson TIllman has applied, as have four people who applied for the District 4 appointment that Crist just filled with former Boca Raton mayor Steven Abrams.

Read about it here.

Ending a week of speculation about her future, Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie Greene will announce today that she is resigning from the seat she has held for more than eight years.

Greene will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. outside the county’s headquarters in West Palm Beach. She confirmed Thursday that she is resigning but declined to comment further.

More here.

Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie Greene discussed her possible resignation with Gov. Charlie Crist this morning and says she will announce her plans by the end of this week.

Greene, who said she is considering stepping down because of health concerns, described her 10- to 15-minute meeting with Crist in Tallahassee as “wonderful.”

Crist would name a replacement if Greene steps down. Greene, a Democrat and the only black county commissioner, wants the Republican governor to name a black Democrat to fill the seat if she leaves. State Rep. Priscilla Taylor, D-West Palm Beach, said Greene has talked to her about the possibility stepping down and having Taylor replace her on the commission.

Taylor said she probably would apply for the vacancy if Greene resigns, but stressed that the decision would be up to Crist.

If she resigns, Greene is entitled to a lump-sum retirement payment of more than $300,000 and an annual pension of more than $53,000, according to state retirement administrators. Greene, 66, has been part of the state retirement system more than 37 years. She was a teacher and state House member before getting elected to the commission in 2000.

If Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie Greene decides to resign for health reasons, knowledgeable sources say she wants assurances that Gov. Charlie Crist will choose state Rep. Priscilla Taylor, D-West Palm Beach, or another black Democrat to fill her seat in heavily Democratic, minority-dominated District 7.

The Palm Beach Post‘s editorial board this morning says Crist shouldn’t allow Greene to “anoint” her successor.

There are few big votes in the state Capitol where the outcome is uncertain. One happened this morning moments before the session even started.

In a secret ballot, House Democratic members voted Ron Saunders of Key West to as caucus leader in 2010 and 2011. Saunders will lead the caucus into the important 2010 elections, when Democrats hope to close in on the Republicans 76-44 majority in the chamber.

Saunders won the election by two votes over Perry Thurston of Plantation for the leadership position. Saunders named Priscilla Taylor of West Palm Beach his leader pro-tempore, the No. 2 position in the caucus.
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Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie Greene, who’s considering resigning because of health concerns, is heading to Tallahassee today for the county’s annual day of lobbying state lawmakers.

If Greene decides to step down, Gov. Charlie Crist will appoint a replacement.

Knowledgeable sources say Greene, a Democrat who is the only black member of the commission, wants assurances that, if she resigns, her replacement will be another black Democrat. She has talked to state Rep. Priscilla Taylor, D-West Palm Beach, about the possibility of Taylor succeeding her on the commission.

Greene’s District 7 is 63.5 percent Democrat and 15.9 percent Republican. Voters are 48.4 percent black, 5.4 percent Hispanic and 40.1 percent white.

Will Greene try to get in a word with Crist while she’s in town? Greene wasn’t commenting Monday and Crist’s office said it had no record of any scheduled meetings with Greene.